on the one hand

Idioms  

1. Also, on one hand. As one point of view, from one standpoint. This phrase is often paired with on the other hand to indicate two sides of an issue. For example, On the one hand this car is expensive; on the other hand, it's available and we need it right now. [First half of 1600s]

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Example Sentences

I think on the one hand he shared a problem with his entire world of aristocrats.

From Slate • Mar. 2, 2026

Still, divisions remain over the course of monetary policy, with officials torn between deteriorating economic conditions on the one hand and concerns over sticky inflation on the other.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 18, 2026

The shooting in Minneapolis serves as a stark reminder of the stubborn gap that often persists between law and policy on the one hand and best law enforcement practices for protecting life on the other.

From Salon • Jan. 10, 2026

They are constricted on the one hand by construction that is transforming fields into concrete jungles, and on the other, by impoverished soils and competition from cheap food imports that undermine their revenue.

From Barron's • Nov. 26, 2025

Since completing my Ph.D. in 1961, I have divided my scientific research efforts between two fields: molecular physiology on the one hand, evolutionary biology and biogeography on the other hand.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond